Study Questions for “The Destructors” by Graham Greene (element of fiction focus: plot) 1. Who is the protagonist in this story--Trevor, Blackie, or the gang? Who or what is the antagonist? Identify the conflicts of the story. 2. How is suspense created? 3. This story uses the most common basic plot formula of escape fiction: protagonist aims at a goal, is confronted with various obstacles between self and goal, overcomes the obstacles and achieves the goal. How then is this story different from escape fiction? Does it have a happy ending? 4. What characteristics do the gang’s two named exploits—pinching free rides and destroying the house—have in common? 5. Of what significance, if any, is the setting of the story in blitzed London? 6. Explain the causes of the gang’s delinquency, taking into account (a) their reaction to the name Trevor, (b) their reaction to Old Misery’s gift of chocolates, (c) Blackie’s reaction to the word “beautiful,” (d) Trevor’s comments on “hate and love,” (e) Summers’s reaction to the word “Please,” (f) the setting. 7. What good qualities do the gang members have? 8. On the surface this is a story of action, suspense, and adventure. At a deeper level, it is about delinquency, war (causes / consequences), and human nature. Try to sum up what the story says in general about human nature.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 13:46:26 +0000
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